Cell case partition assembling machine



Dec. 15, 1953 G. e. PORTER CELL. CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE l3 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1947 Dec. 15, 1953 e. G. PORTER CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1947 13 Shasta-Sheet 2 |O9 RECEIVING ZONE A fiwerzf George 6. 1 0726)" By Aflor A l VRECEIVINO ZONEA.

Dec. 15, 1953 G. G. PORTER 2,662,453

CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING {MCHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 13 Sheets-$11661; 5

[@672 Z'or 660796 b orfiew G. G. PORTER Dec. 15, 1953 RTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE CELL CASE PA 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 13, 1947 fizyeizi'or (7420796 & Pan er Dec. 15, 1953 cs. 6. PORTER CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE 1s Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 13, 1947 fzaerziar 02 96 QPorier Dec. 15, 1953 G. e. PORTER CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 13, 1947 y A Ziorvwyd jaz/erzlw George fl ori'ei" 2 35 4 44 2 2 7 O u 2 M m f M 4 WI W m w s I m. 8 30 2 swam M22 22 7 I I a I I -II} r M X FL 7 2 Dec. 15, 1953 e. e. PORTER CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1947 {L3 Sheets-Sheet 9 fave/@207" Gorjge GPOPZQP Dec. 15, 1953 G. G. PORTER 2,662,453

CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1947 13 Sheets-Sheet l0 IIIHHIIIH!!! lllll flllllll illlllllll lllll Dec. 15, 1953 e. e. PORTER 2,662,453

CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 13 Sheets-Sheet ll 7 Z 4 fig. Z5

lllllllllllllllllllll Dec. 15, 1953 G. G. PORTER CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet l2 Filedoct. 13, 194'? RECEIVING z0r vE OR STATION A I 3g Aiiorvze m Dec. 15, 1953 PORTER 2,662,453

CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 13, 1947 1a Sheets- Sheet .13

[amen/07" $607 96 GBOPZQ? Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE CELL CASE PARTITION ASSEMELING MACHINE George G. Porter, Miami, Fla. Application October 13, 1947, Serial No. 779,432 32 Claims. (Cl. 93 37) novel devices, combinations of devices and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined.

As is well known, cell cases of the kind referred to are commonly used for packaging a plurality of fragile items requiring isolation from one another to prevent breakage or damage. As is also well recognized, the cores of these so-called cases tition to receive the intersecting partition to approximately one-half the depth thereof, so that in the completed core, all of the partitions are interlocked to form compartments or cubicles of predetermined dimensions.

lhe number of partitions involved in any single .L'-'

It is, therefore, an important objective of the instant invention to provide a cell case partition assembling machine incorporating novel features whereby a single machine can be readily adart designed their machines with a view of provlding adjustability to take care of at least some adaptation have proven objectionable for one reason or another, and for the most part, at least, have been largely or wholly abandoned insofar as commercial application is concerned. This does not mean that there are not some automatic machines in use for commercially assembling cell case partitions to form completed cell case cores,

shortage which often produces serious delays in production.

several difierent specifications.

Another important objective of the invention is the provision of an improved cell case partition with machines of this general character.

Other important objectives of the invention are rugged construction, lependable, positive action, and simplicity of control.

The above and highly important objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent and further el phasized in the accompany- Referring now to the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2.'

Fig. a is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the side of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line -5 of Fig. 3 and showing details of the operating mechanism for the turret indexing plunger;

Fig. 'l is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'i--''! of Fig. 2 and showing de tails of the turret and the partition dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line S-& of Fig. 7 and showing further details of the table and magazine portions of one partition dispenser;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with some parts broken away, taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 1 and showing details of the turret and turret brake;

Fig. 10 is a similarly enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line Iii-49 of Fig. 3 and showing details of the turret brake releasing mechanism;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailed View section tal-zen on the line H-il of Fig. 1 and showing details of the conveyor mechanism of one dispenser;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in side elevation corresponding to part of Fig. 5 and showing, on an enlarged scale, parts of the mechanism for disposing of assembled partition units;

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to Fig. 12 but showing different positions of certain of the parts;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken on the line i4-l4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line |5-!5 of Fig. 12, but showing the parts on a further enlarged. scale;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 16-46 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional. view taken on the line ing, in particular, other parts of the mechanism for finally disposing of the assembled partition units;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i9-l8 of Fig. 3 and showing other parts of the mechanism for disposing of completed partition assemblies;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l9-49 of Fig. 3 and showing details of the turret opening mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line iii-2B of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2l-2i of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of the parts shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 2323 of Fig. 4, shown as though viewed from top toward the bottom with respect to Fig. 4 and illustrating details of the turret indexing mechanism;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line EL-24 of Fig. 9 and. illustrating further details of the turret brake;

Fig. 25 is an enlarged detail i'i-l'i cf Fig. 3 and showsectional view taken on the horizontal line 25-25 of Fig. 9 and showing still further details of the turret brake;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 28-48 of Fig. 3 and showing details of the drive for the dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of Fig. i on a greatly enlar ed scale, said view being also taken on the line 1- of Fig. 1 and showing, in particular, details of the partition delivery train retracting mechanism of a dispenser:

Fig. 28 is an enlarged detail perspective View, with some parts broken away, of a Cl2.llk-OI)l"- ated, pawl-actuating, partition train retracting finger, shown in plan in Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation, with some parts broken away, further illustrating portions of the partition retracting mechanism and also illustrating portions of the mechanism for locking partitions in the turret holders;

Fig. 30 is a detail view corresponding to Fig. 29 but showing somewhat different positions of cer tain of the parts;

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3l3i of Fig. 29;

Fig. 32 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 32-3-2 of Fig. l of a friction drive device for the partition retractlocking mechanisms,

Fig. 33 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the partition holder-equipped turret type conveyor of the machine and further illustrating schematically certain of the operations of the machine;

Fig. 34 is a top perspective view of a completely assembled cell case core;

Fig. 35 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing on an enlarged scale a magazine portion of one of the dispensers;

Fig. 36 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 36-36 of Fig. 35; and

Fig. 3'? is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Fig. 6 but showing a different position of some of the parts.

Turret In the drawings, the main or base frame structure of the machine is indicated as an entirety by I. Extending through the front and rear plates of the base frame structure is a shaft 2 having mounted fast on its projecting front end a turret-type conveyor, which latter is indicated as an entirety by 3. The shaft 2. is journalled at its rear end in a frame supported bearing 4 and at its front end in a forwardly projecting bearing boss 5. In the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the turrettype conveyor 3 comprises a generally rectangular hub-acting portion 6 having a plurality of radially projecting arms I of which there are four spaced degrees apart. In accordance with the present illustration, the arms I are U- shaped (see particularly Figs. 2 and 33).

Turret partit on holders tition holders are of the spring friction type, and

the holder for each. partition. comprises a set. of four spring clips; the: spring clips of the; set. com.- prising the radially outermost holder of each arm l being collectively indicated by 8 and being individually indicated. by, 8', and, the. spring clips. of the: set. comprising the; radially innermost. holder of. each arm, l being collectively indicated. by e and. being individually indicated by 9..

As. an important. feature of the present inven:

tion, the individual spring clips 8 and t of they holders 8. and respectively... are. mounted for adjusting. movements. toward from one an:- other to. vary the. overall. span thereofv and the spacing; therebetween to accommodate.- partitions oi various: lengths and slot spacings. In. the embodiment of theinvention illustrated, this: is accomplished. by slidably mounting. the clips. 8. of. the holders 8.- of each turret. conveyor arm. on an arm mounted bar t, and by similarly mounting the spring clips ll of the holder 9 of each turret conveyor arm for sliding movements on acorresponding arm mounted bariilfl. For pur pose. hereinafter read apparent, the mounting Eli and. it d .ed at their. centers to rovide; passages l l therethrough axially of. the turret conveyor (see particularly Fig. 33). The spring clips 8: and are locked in; desired adjusted positions on their respective divided: bars it and ill by suitable thumb set screws l2 (see 7 and 9). feature of the invention, opposite sections of the divided spring clip carrying bars 56 and it are adjustably slidably mounted on opposite radial portions of the turret. arms 71' and. are held in suitably spaced adjusted positions by thumb set screws isle (see Figs. 1 and 9).

By reference now particularly to Fig. 7,. it will be seen that each of. the; spring. clips and. 9 comprises a rigid l adiustably slidably mounted on the mounting bars li and 2-9., respectively, of the turret arms 'i: foradiusting movements thereon tovary the. between. the. several cooperating. clips. 33' and, 5; for the purpose of. accon'modating cellcase= partitionshaving different. dimensions and. slot SD33? ings. Thespring clip 3" and 9' are locked. in desired adj usted. positions by thumb set screws; [2 threaded into bodies l3 engaging the mount.- ingbars it ori l of the '5'. Therigidbody i3- 01" each spring clip and Q is; provided with rigid rearwardly projecting partition engaging finger;-

which oooperateswith a springfinger i5 pivoted to the forward end of the. rigid body at it and yieldingly pressed. into engagement. with the cooper ng rigid finger i l by a coil com pression spring ll. The coil compression springs it are mounted. on; the intermediate portions of adjusting nut-equipped bolts it. The bolts it are anchored fast their inner; ends; in the bodies 5.3 and" work: loosely through their; coop;- erating spring fingers: it... The. inner of cooperating fingers: it and; 1.5.-

the. clips. 8" and 9' are flared forreception of. cell case; partitions fed. edgewise thereto. The turret. conveyor 3; is intermittently driven: in a counter-clockwise. direction with respect to Figs, 2 and 33': to bring the same. successively into. four different indexed positions. spaced 90 degrees; apart. In: each of these fourindexed positions of the. turret, a different turret. carried group. of partition holders 8 and 9 will be brought. to. a receiving zone or station A (seeparticulariy Fig. 33), and. another group of'tuiret mount d partition holders 2 and 9;. spaced 90 degrees; rain the: first said. group thereof in. av counter-clockwise direction, will; be

As a further very important brought: to an. assembly zone or. station B (see particularly 3.3). As. an. aid in locating these sor-cazlleol. zones or stations; on the drawing the receiving: zone. or station: is boxed in. b broken lines: A. in Fig. 33. and. the. assembly zone or stationi boxed. in by broken lines-B in Fig. 33.

Turret drive The. turret-type conveyor 3*. is intermittently rotated in the manner just. above described from a suitable source of power such as an electric motor M through. power transmission and control mechanism: as follows:v Mounted fast on the shaft of the motor'lvi is a pulley it. which drives a: belt" 28. running over driving a. large. speedreducing pulley 3i mounted fast on a shaft 22 loinina-lled to the. baseframe. structure I, in a bearingv 2:3. Mounted fast on the shaft 22 is a pinion. gear 24 thatjntermeshes with a large speed-reducing gear 25. mounted fast on one end of a. long power take-oif shaft 26 journalled in bearings. 2'? on the rear of the. base frame I. At this point, attention is called to the fact that the motor M and transmission connections there.- from. thus f-a-r described are common to all of the. power driven elements of the machine; several of which have. not thus far been specifically referredto. The power transmission connections to the conveyor further comprise a pair ofinterineshing bevelled gears 23, one of which is mounted fast on the shaft 25 and the other of which is mounted fast on the projecting rear end of a forwardly andrearwardly extending shaft 29 that extends through the front and rear plates of the base frame I and is journalled adjacent its opposed ends. in said front and rear plates. Also mounted fast on the rearwardly projecting end of the, shaft 29 is a spur gear 3E2 that interzneshes with. and drives a similar spur gear 3!, which latter is mounted. fast on the projected rear end of. a stub shaft that is journalled in a. bearing 33 fast on. the rear plate of the base frame l. The. spur gear 3 l. carries a crank pin 24 on. which is. journalled. the lower end. of a. pitroan 23111135.. The pitman arm 35 is shown as being a composite; structure madev up of lower and upper sections and. thesaid upper section thereof is. toothed to provide a gear rack 36. This gear racksection 36 of the pitinan arm 35 intermeshes with. and drives a spur gear 3'! loose on the rearwardly projecting end of the turret shaft 2. The; rack section at of. the pitinan is maintained in. proper internieshlng relationship with the gear by an oscillating guide (see Figs. 3 and 19-) journalled on the shaft The gear 3? is continuously oscillated by the rack tooth-equipped pitman arm and, since the turlet 3. its shaft are to be intermittently but unidirectionally driven; mechanism is provided for coupling the oscillating gear 3! to the. shaft; 2 intermittently and. only under movement of the pitman arm in. one. direction. This mechanism comprises. a plate 33 fast: onthe gear (see par.- ticularly Figs-1.9.20 and 21), a pin mounted iast. on. the plate 39, a. latch arm ti pivoted at one end on the pin 35 andhaving at its free end alatch: dog lz, and. a; circular flange it fast on theeiunretshaftz 2 and having four equally spaced peripl'ieral matches 5. 2: for alternate reception of the latch (210 3 32; The latch dog-equipped arm 41' is yieldingl'y biased in the. direction of the notched fianget by a spring pressed plunger 5 5 (see particularly Fig. 22)..

The saididriving; connections 3 o M, inclusive, are automatically controlled bymechanism as follows: A cam 55 is mounted fast on shaft 32 adjacent gear 3% and operates a bell crank 65 by engagement with a roller Q"! on one end thereof. The bell crank lfi is intermediately pivoted at 48 on a frame mounted bracket 59 (see Figs. 19 and 2G). The bell crank 28 is yieldingly biased to move its free roller-equipped end 41 into the path of the cam 15 by a spring pressed plunger 50. The other end of the bell crank 45 is pivotally connected to a connecting rod M, which, in turn, is pivotally connected at its upper end to one end of a lever The lever 5?. is intermediately pivoted at 53 to the rear plate of the base frame I. The free end of the lever 52 projects beneath and engages the underside of a lug 5d fast on and projecting from the latch dog 52.

It will now be seen that when the motor M is in operation, the gear ill will be continuously oscillated by the reciprocating rack teeth equipped pitman arm. Because the turret is to be intermittently driven in steps of 90 de ea the throw of the crank pin 3d operating the rack 36 will be just sufficient to impart 90 degrees of rotary movement to the 3'! in each direction. in each of the four indexed positions of the turret, the latch dog Q2 of arm ll, which oscillates in common with the gear will drop into a different one of the four peripheral notches t l of the shaft mounted flange Under rotary movements of the gear plate 38, and latch arm ii, the latch lug 42 of said arm will remain seated in a peripheral notch A l of the flange 553, and will lock said flange to the plate 39 and gear 3?, thereby causing the turret shaft 2 and turret to partake of common rotary movement with the gear 3i? and plate 39 through 90 degrees in a clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 20. The turret, having now been given a step of rotation to the new station, the latch arm ll will be raised against the yielding action of the spring pressed plunger ii to release its latch dog from an engaged notch M in flange by engagement of cam Bil with the roller equipped end ll of the bell crank 55 which, operating through the push rod 5i, will rock the lever 52 in a clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 26, thereby raising the free end of said arm against the underside of the latch dog carried lug t -i and raising said latch sufficiently to release it from the engaged flange notch .4. Of course, upon releasing of the latch dog 52 from the engaged notch the gear 8'5 will again be free of the shaft flange 53; and the gear plate 3i: and latch arm will be free to rotate in the opposite direction independently of the shaft 2 and its flange d3 until the latch dog 52 falls into another peripheral notch i i of the flange .3 preparatory to imparting another step of movement to the shaft 2 and the turret 3. At this point attention is called to the fact that Figs. 20, 21 and 22 show the various parts of the turret driving connections from the shaft 32 in the positions which they assume immediately prior to the releasing of latch dog 42 from a cooperating flange notch In this position of the parts, the crank pin is just a few degrees from bottom dead center on its downward turret operating stroke, and the cam following roller 4'! has just come into engagement with the toe 47' of the cam 5 to initiate the withdrawal of the latch lug d2 from an engaged notch i l of flange 43. In the arrangement illustrated, the cam 45 completes the withdrawal of the turret driving latch lug 32 from a cooperating notch M during the few degrees of downward movement of the crank pin from the position shown in Fig. 20 to bottom dead center position.

Turret indexing To positively stop the turret 2 at each of its four indexed positions, to which it is power driven by the oscillating latch arm 4!, there is provided indexing mechanism comprising an index plunger slidably mounted in a bearing box 56 on the forwardly projecting bearing boss 5 by means of a bracket 51 (see Figs. 4 and 23) for the turret shaft 2. The bearing box 56 for the index plunger is located directly behind the hub portion of the turret 3 and is mounted on the bearing boss 5 through a medium of a bracket 51. For reception of the free end portion of the indexing plunger 55, the hub portion of the turret 3 is provided with four indexing apertures 58 that are circumferentially spaced 90 degrees apart. Of course the purpose of the indexing plunger 55 is to positively lock the turret against rotation for intervals between successive rotary step movements of 90 degrees each. To operate the indexing plunger 55 in proper timed relation to driven movements of the turret from one indexing motion to the next, I provide the following operating mechanism from the shaft 26, to wit: A cam 59 is mounted. fast on the shaft 26 and cooperates with a cam following roller 60 on the free end of a rocker arm 6! that intermediately is pivoted to the base frame structure l at 52 and is pivoted at its upper end at 63 to a connecting rod 64, the other end of which is pivoted at 65 to the rear end of the indexing plunger 55. An arm 66 is pivotally mounted on the rocker arm M at a point 61 intermediate the pivot point 62 and the free roller-equipped end of said rocker arm El. The free end of this arm 65 is provided with a cam following roller 63 for cooperation with a cam 69 mounted on the shaft 26 adjacent the cam.

59. Extending between and connecting the intermediate portion of the arm 5'5 with that portion of the rocker arm 6| intermediate the pivot point 6"! and its roller equipped free end is a rod 10. The rod I0 is screw threaded in a block H pivoted on the rocker arm 61 and works slidably through a similar block i2 pivoted on the arm 66. Mounted on the rearwardly projecting free end portion of the rod 10 is a coil compression spring !3 that is compressed between the block 12 and a pressure adjusting nut '14 threaded on the rod 16. The spring 13 maintains the rod 10 under yielding pressure to slide rearwardly through the pivoted block .2. but such rearward sliding movement of the rod i0 is definitely limited by a stop shoulder 15 on the rod 10.

The operation of the index plunger and its operating mechanism just above described is as follows: When the turret is in any one of its four indexing positions, the indexing plunger 55 will be seated in an indexing aperture 58 of the turret representing that particular indexing position (see Fig. 23), and in which position the turret will be positively locked against rotation. This then will be the position of the indexing plunger 55 during inoperative upward movements of the rack equipped pitman arm 35 and counter-clockwise movements of the gear 31 when viewed from the rear as in Fig. 20. When the dog 42 of latch 4!, which latter partakes of common movements with the gear 31, reaches the extremes of its non-operating counte --clockwise movements with respect to Fig. 20, and the aces-ass latch dog drops into a cooperating notch 4 4 of flange t3 preparatory to its clockwise operative movements with respect to Fig. 20, the roller 60 of rock arm 6i will be engaged by the toe 16 of the cam '59 and the said rock arm 6!: will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction with respect to Figs. 6 and 3? sufliciently to retract the indexing plunger from the turret apertures 58', then engaged, thereby unlocking the turret prior to each clocsi' se driving movement thereof.

Upon leaving the toe it of the cam 59, the roller 659 will ride on the concentric face ll of the cam during the initial portion oi the step of turret movement then taking place and during this interval the indexing plunger will be maintained out of engagement with the rear face of the turret. Before the turret completed its step of movement, the roller 69 will ride on of the concentric face ll of cam 59 and, for a slight continued movement of the turret, the rock arm til will remain in exactly the position occupied thereby while the roller til theseor" was on the concentric face of the cam. While the turret is still partaking of the step of movement in progress, the roller of arm 65 will be engaged by the toe it the cam 53 will ride onto the concentric face iii} of said cam. t9. Under initial lifting movements of the roll r so over the toe "is of the cans se the arms 55 and El will be rocked as a unit on the pivot to the extent necessary and will advance the indexing plunger into engagement with the smooth rear face oi the turret. After the indexing plunger '55 engages the smooth rear face of the turret, the balance of the lifting movement imparted by the toe E9 of the cam so to the roller 68 of the arm 66 will be utilized to move the arm i1 6 pivotally with respect to the arm ill in a clockwise direction with respect to Figs. 6 and 37, thereby sliding the pivoted block 1-2 of the arm 65 rearwardly on the rod it away from its cooperating stop shoulder is and against the yielding compression of spring :3. As the cam following roller is now riding on the con-centric face to of the cam the full yielding force of the compression spring is will be exerted on the rear face of the turret 55 through the indexing plunger during the balance of the arcuate step of turret movement now in progress. As soon as the turret 3 reaches a new station at the completion of an arcuate step of movement from a previous station, the indexing plunger 55, being thence still spring pressed against the back face of the turret, will come into registration with and will be forced into an indexing aperture representing the new turret station. This advancing of the indexing plunger 55 into a new indexing aperture 53 will be the result of a clockwise pivotal movement of rock arm ti on pivot 52, which will move the roller 50 thereof from the position of Fig. 37 back to the position of Fig. 6 where it will remain until next engaged b its cooperating cam toe 76. During part of the period that the turret is thus locked against movement by the indexing plunger 55- the cam following roller will continue to ride along the concentric face of cam so but will ride freeof the concentric face of the cam 59 before the cam following roller 6:? is again engaged by the toe it of the cam At this point it is important to note that the indexing plunger 5'5 becomes aligned with and is projected into a cooperating indexing recess as when the turet operating parts from shaft 32 are positioned as in 2o, 21 and 22, by reference to the former lof which it will be noted that the crank pin bottom dead center position required to retract the turret operating latch dog from a cooperating flange notch t l will produce no appreciable turret driving movement.

Turret brake Although, as explained above, the turret conveyor will be moving extremely slow at times of insertion of thev indexing plunger 55 into ooopera-ting indexing recesses of the turret, it will, nevertheless, be appreciated that the inertia of the turret, even under these conditions, will be sufiicient. to produce quite a shock upon sudden insertion of the indexing plunger into a co operating indexing recess so if the entire inertia of the turret conveyor were to be absorbed through the indexing plunger Hence, it is desirable in the construction illustrated, to pro-- vide an auxiliary means for absorbing a part 01" the inertia of the turret independently of the indexing plunger For ti s purpose, I provide friction braking mechanism comprisin four brake flanges 81, each of which is anchored to and projects radially from the free end porion of an arm 7 of the turret 3. Cooperating singularly with these brake flanges Si is an op posed pair of brake shoes t2, having friction faeings or linings 83 adjacent their free edges. In the machine illustrated, the brake shoes are integrally formed with or welded to a plate 8d at their edge portions opposite he facings and said shoes 82 having sufficient flexibility to permit setting and release of the brake by the utilization of the inherent flexibility of the plates. In this connection it may be said that the brake is shown in Fig. 24 in its set position, but that the said brake shoes normally flex apart suincientl'y to allow free passage therebetween of the brake flanges iii. The brake mechanism is mounted on a forwardly prcjectim auxiliary frame portion as shown best in Figs. 1 4 and It will, of course, be understood that frame and other supporting structure for the brake mechanism has a. downward passage aligned with the. space between the brake shoes 82* to allow passage of the brake flanges 8! under rotation of the turret. The connecting plate 1 between the brake shoes is provided with a rearward-1y extending flange its that is rigidly secured on the auxiliary frame structure and has rigidly secured toits extendedend portion a diagonal brace member 8? which is rigidly secured at its other end to the upper portion of the plate as of the brake.

The operating mechanism for this brake is as follows: Three e e bolts 3% extend loosely through the opposed brake shoes 82 as shown best in Fig. 24, these eye bolts being spaced from the inner longitudinal edges of the brake facings 83 and out of the path of travel of the brake flanges 8-4. The eyes or the eye bolts are all positioned on a common side of the brake, and the other ends of the eye bolts are provided with nuts forming bases of reaction when brake setting tension is applied to the bolts through their eyes. Fivoted at so to the eye-equipped ends of the bolts 88 are cams works against an adjacent face of an adjacent brake plate S2 and is integrally formed on a link or arm 9 l. The outer ends of the several links or arms SI are all pivoted to a common connecting bar 92 for common pivotal movements by a crank arm 93 and connecting rod 95. The crank arm 93 is fast on a crank shaft 95 journalled in bearing flanges 95 extending from the frame structure 85 as shown best in Fig. 9. By reference to Fig. 24 it will be seen that when the crank arm 93 is in the position shown in said figure, the brake is set through the action of the cams 9t and that releasing of the brake may be effected by a counter-clockwise movement of the crank arm 93.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the brake is further set by a coil tension spring an acting through a link 95: and an operating arm 99 fast on one end of the brake operating crank shaft 95. The other end of the spring ii? is anchored fast to the auxiliary frame 85. The tension of the spring 9'1 is not sufficient to completely close the gap between the cooperating brake shoes 32, but is sufficient to flex the plates sufiiciently to reduce the gap between the plates to less than the thicknesses of the brake flanges BI in the absence of an interposed brake flange 8I. Hence, in this instance, the brake flanges will be subject to the setting action of the spring 91, acting through its brake setting connections including the earns 96. The leading edges of the brake flanges are pointed or wedge shaped, as shown best at ti in Fig. 24, for the purpose of piloting the brake flanges into the gap between the opposed brake shoe facings 83, which will be less than the thickness of said plates. Releasing of the brake described is accomplished through mechanism comprising a cam Hill mounted fast on shaft 25, a crank arm Iiii provided with a cam following roller $62 for cooperation with the cam IIIU, a shaft I63 journalled in bearings Hi4 and on which the crank arm Iili is mounted for common rocking movements, an arm I35 mounted fast on the shaft I03, and a rod I05 extending between the upper end of the arm H and the upper end of the arm 99. With the arrangement illustrated, the brake shoes 82 will be subject to the brake setting action of the spring 9'! from the time the cam following roller Hi2 passes off of the heel Iii! of the cam Hit until it is engaged and moved by the toe I08 of the cam Itll. Actually, with the arrangement illustrated, the cam roller 02 will ride off of the heel itl of the cam I00 and subject the brake shoes 82 to the yielding action of the brake setting spring 9? during each movement of the turret from one station to the other, and at times in advance of the entry of a brake flange 8| into the space between the cooperating brake shoes, and the said brake shoes will be relieved of the brake setting action of the spring ill, through the action of the cam Hit, immediately following the entry of the indexing plunger 55 into a cooperating indexing aperture 58.

98, each of which Partition dispensers cent the receiving Zone ing cell case partitions Y and Y into positions of crossed assembled relationship with partitions X and X, held by the group of holders 8 and 9, respectively, of each turret arm I, while the latter are indexed in an assembly zone or station E, I provide a group B of cell case partition dispensers which are individually indicated as entireties by III and II2, respectively. The group A of dispensers are located immediately adja- A, and the group B of located adjacent the assembly located on the same side of the turret as are the group of dispensers A. The dispensers I09, III), III, and H2 each comprise a magazine portion for a stack of cell case partitions and an underlying reciprocating pusher type conveyor mechanism. The bottom of the magazine portion of the dispenser Ifle is formed by a table H3, the bottom of the magazine portion of the dispenser I I0 is formed by a table I I4, the bottom of the magazine portion of dispenser IN is formed by a table H5 and the bottom of the magazine portion of the dispenser H2 is formed by a table I I6. Other parts or the magadispensers are zone B and are zine portions of the dispensers IE9 to H2, inclusive, are identical. The magazine portions of the dispensers ltd to II2, inclusive, respectively, each further include a laterally spaced pair of central apertured side plates H! (see Figs 1 and 7), an apertured front plate H3 (see Figs. 2 and '1), a laterally spaced pair of angle iron guides H9 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and '7) adapted to embrace opposite front corners of the stack of partitions, and a laterally spaced pair of vertically disposed guides :20 each adapted to engage the rear edges of the several partitions of a stack (see Figs. 3 and '7). The laterally spaced side plates II'I of each magazine are rigidly secured together by a cooperating front plate II8, which is bolted or otherwise secured thereto by bolts or the like I2I (see Figs. 1 and 2). The laterally spaced vertical angle guides H9 of each magazine are adjustably connected to the cooperating front plate HS by nut-equipped stud bolts I22 working in horizontal slots in said front plate, the said stud bolts being welded or otherwise rigidly anchored to the angle guides II9, whereby to permit variable spacing between the said angle guides II9 to accommodate partitions of varying lengths. To accommodat the magazines to partitions of different depths, the rear guides I20 of each magazine are adjustably connected to the side plates Ill by anchoring brackets 23, and nut-equipped anchoring screws I24 working through the offset ends of the anchoring brackets I23 and slots E25 in the opposed laterally spaced side plates Ill. The side plates II? are outwardly flanged at their bottoms and are anchored to their respective cooperating tables I :3, I I4, I I5 and H6 by means of toe clamps 26 for bodily forward and rearward adjusting movements of the magazines with respect to their cooperating tables. In the preferred form illustrated, the toe clamps E26 are directly carried by bars I2? which are, in turn, spaced from their respective cooperating tables by shim strips I28 (see particularly Fig. 8), and which are anchored fast to the said tables each by a number of cap screws I29 passing through the bars i2l', shim strips I28, and the underlying table, and is screwthreaded into bars I39 corresponding to and underlying the bars I2'i.

The two tables H3 and N4 of dispenser group A are independently vertically adj ustably mounted on a common bed frame I3 I, and the two tables I3 IE5 and fit of dispenser group- B are mounted for independent vertical movements on a similar common bed frame I32. The bed frames I3I and i322 are mounted on the base frame structure l for independent forward and rearward adjusting movements. As illustrated, the bed frames I3l and I32 are merely gravity seated on the base frame structure and are guided for true forward and rearward adjusting movements on said frame by providing thereon laterally spaced guide rail portions l3ll, which overlap and cooperate with upstanding guide flanges Hi l on the base frame structure by having the guide rail portions Hi3- of the bed frames till and I 32 overlap and cooperate with upstanding guide flanges I 34. As best seen in Figs. 1 and '7, the table I it of dispenser group A overlies the table ll l of said group, and the table lid of dispenser group B directly overlies the table Ill? of the last said group. The bed frame it! supports the tables i it and lid by means including four upstanding adjusting screws I 35 having their lower ends anchored fast to said bed frame I 3! and the tables H5 and iii; are supported from the bed frame i532 by means including four adjusting screws having their lower ends it cured fa t to the bed frame M2. The adjusting screws I35 and Il a? wori: loosely through the tables H3, IM, lit and M6, their bars l2l, shim strips 28 and ca s l and are provided with sprocket whee uipped' nuts lll'l threaded onthe said adjus g screws I35 and I36 and engage the undef-sides of the bars I36 of the table 5 53 to l i inclusive, respectively, whereby to adjustably support the tables respective cooperating adjusting screws. Running over all four sprocket wheel equipped nuts I 37? supporting table H3 is an endless link belt or chain E tit; running over all four of the sprocket wheel-equipped nuts I ill supporting table ti t is an endless link belt or chain I 39; running over all four of the sprocket wheel equipped nuts it! supporting table H5 i an endless link belt or chain I it; and running over all four sprocket wheel equipped nuts I 37 supporting table is an endless link belt or chain MI. By manual selective rotation of these chains 38 to Hit, inclusive, respectively, the tables H3 to H6, inclusive, respectively, together with the mechanisms carried thereby can be independently raised or lowered for an important purpose hereinafter to be made clear, but which, briefly stated, is the variable location of and spacing between adjacent partitions colleetiveiy delivered to the receiving and assembly zones by dispensers of common groups.

The pusher-type conveyor dispenser mechanism I 89 mechanism of each to H2, inclusive, re-

In the forms shown, these pusher arms Hi2 of each pair are integrally formed from a common sheet of metal. As shown, the forward end portions of each pair of arms hi2 are connected by a plate t lt rigidly carrying a pusher plate M l (see particularly Figs. c and 7), and the forward end portions of each pair of arms I42 and their connccting plate I43 overlie and ride on the upper surface of a table IE3, H4, H5 or II6. erence now particularly to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the opposite pusher arms I42 of each pair thereof run in opposed forwardly and rearwardly extending guide channels formed between a I I3 to H6, inclusive, on their The extended pusher arms I 2 of the disof the bed frame Figs. 1 and 3), and the extended rear ends of the pusher arms I42 of the dispensing mechanisms of dispenser group B are similarly adjustably connected to a common head Mt mounted for forward and rearward reciprocation on the extended rear end portion of bed frame I32 (also see particularly Figs. 1 and 3). The heads Hi5 and in the form illustrated, cast structures each comprising laterally spaced side plates I ll tied together by a cross bar portion I58, and a bottom member or plate portion I 49 (see partioularly Fig. 3). The reciprocating heads I 55 and I46 are guided for straight-line reciprocation and I32, respectively, by depending guide flanges l5ii formed on the bottoms Mil of the said heads 5 5E and l te and embracing the inner longitudinal sides of the opposits rails E33 of the beds I3! and E32 and depending guide flanges I5 I depending from the laterally intermediate portion of the bottom members its and embracing opposite sides of a forwardly and rearwardly extending guide bar I52 forming a part of each of said beds lit and H2. The side plates f ll of the heads I55 and I it are provided with upstanding laterally outwardly projecting anchoring flanges I53 to which the rearwardly extended end portions of laterally opposite pusher arms Hi2 are connected to the said laterally opposite vertical flanges I53 of the side plates I ll for horizontal and vertical adjustments through the medium of anchoring blocks l 54, of which there is one for each pusher arm hi2 (see particularly Fig. 11). The anchoring blocks I54 are vertically slotted to receive the anchoring flanges E53, to which they are anchored by set screws E55 allowing vertical adjustments on said flanges I53 (see Also by reference to Fig. ll it will be seen that their respective cooperating tables Ilrl to M3, inclusive, respectively, and horizontal adjustments of the pusher arms i l?! in their respective anchoring blocks I5 5 are important in order to allow for forward and rearward adjustments of the bed frames fill and it? each with respect to their cooperating head Hit: or Hi6. In other words, Whenever a bed Itl or I 32 is to be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly to allow, for example, for the handling of partitions of different depths, the set screws I55 will be loosened and reset at the completion of the forward or rearward adjustment. For the purpose of vertical adjustments of the tables M3 to H5, inclusive, the set screws I55 will be similarly loosened and reset at the completion of the adjustment, although if the vet 

